Water purification using conveyor sweep

ABSTRACT

Process and apparatus to remove colloids and nitrogen compounds from contaminated water by coagulating the colloids and separating them from the water. The solids are floated by sparging and then the floating solids are swept from the surface of the water into an exit port using a conveyor from which downwardly depending flaps skim or near the surface, thus sweeping the floating floc into the exit port.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/787,907, filed on Mar. 31, 2006, and U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/788,278, filed on Mar. 31, 2006, which is incorporatedherein in its entirety. This application also claims priority to and isa Continuation-In-Part application of Ser. No. 12/694,306, filed Mar.30, 2007.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a methods, systems and devices for waterpurification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Economical and efficient methods and apparatus for purifyingcontaminated water, particularly water containing fatty acids, have longbeen sought. Contaminated water, e.g., waters containing solublenitrogen compounds, suspended organic colloidal emulsions or suspensionssuch as effluents from meat processing plants, dairies, cheeseprocessing plants, bakeries, chemical plants, paper plants and petroleumplants and effluents including raw sewage are of particular importanceand efficient, cost effective methods of decontaminating such waters arehighly desired.

The colloids have a negative charge which prevents them from coalescingand makes filtration or separation practically impossible. Previousmethods for water purification include combining the fatty acidcontaminated water with metallic ions released from electrodes duringelectrolysis to form hydrophobic, metallic soaps. Bivalent or trivalentmetal ions are released from electrodes during electrolysis and combinewith the fatty acids to form an insoluble flocculant. The flocculant, inturn, entrains or absorbs other impurities present in the contaminatedwater. Thus, the flocculant serves as a transport medium to remove notonly fatty acids, but also other impurities from the water.

In order to ensure continuous production of ions, the electrodes weredisposed in a moving bed of solid particles. The solid particles werekept in motion by the flow of process water through the electrolysischamber in order to continuously abrade and clean the electrodesurfaces. The flocculant and any entrained impurities were then directedto a flocculation/separation basin where the flocculant and entrainedimpurities were separated by flotation, leaving purified water forwithdrawal from the basin.

Electrolytic water treating systems, including electro-flotation andelectrocoagulation systems, while functional, have difficulties whentheir electrodes become covered with an insoluble layer that is notremovable by merely changing the polarity of the electrodes. This isespecially true when sewage water containing fatty acids is electrolyzedwith metal electrodes which form an insoluble metal soap at the surfaceof the anode and can be difficult to remove.

Current electrolytic water treating systems clean the electrodes by amoving bed of hard particles and introduces air before the electrolyticcell to move the bed and the water through the system. However, it hasbeen found that bubbles before the electrolytic cells increase theelectrical resistance between the electrodes thereby requiring highervoltages and inducing excess wear on electrodes, walls and parts of thecell.

After the majority of contaminants have been removed, remainingdissolved and suspended contaminating materials need to be removed andthe remainder treated to kill bacteria. The water can be treated withany number of sterilizing agents, such as biocides, uv lights, ozone,chlorine, bromine, and the like, although chlorine is the preferredagent.

Chlorine is normally made electrolytically, continuously introducing aconcentrated salt solution (chloride ions) into the anode compartment ofan electrolysis cell which is separated from the cathode compartment bya permeable diaphragm. Before the advent of ion exchange diaphragms thediaphragm were made of many plies of asbestos paper between anode andcathode to prevent as much as possible mixing of the caustic produced inthe cathode compartment with the chlorine produced in the anodecompartment. Currently, cationic ion exchange diaphragms that preventthe flow of anions and of solutions from one compartment to another aretypically used.

Chlorine as sodium hypochlorite may be made by electrolyzing salt waterwithout the use of diaphragms. This process is especially useful forswimming pool applications, but has the disadvantage of using salt.Thus, the calcium and magnesium present in the water form carbonateswhich deposit on the cathode eventually isolating it and preventingcurrent flow between the electrodes. The cathode must then be cleanedwith acid to remove the calcareous coating.

The standard electrolytical technique to chlorinate water inswimming-pools is to provide a separate cell containing a highconcentration of common salt which upon electrolysis gives sodiumhypochlorite or chlorine which is fed into the swimming-pool.Theoretically, it is possible to add sufficient common salt to theswimming-pool water and to electrolyze it directly. However, thistechnique has the disadvantage that the water tastes salty to thebathers and that the calcium contained in the water deposits onto thecathodes to such an extent that the flow of the current stops or isimpaired. Changing of polarity to remove the calcium deposits on thecathodes has been found in practice to lead to corrosion of the cathode.

The water purification industry has continued to seek new and improvedmethods for removing fatty acids and other contaminants from water.Accordingly, there has been a long-felt but unfulfilled need for moreeconomical, more efficient, cost effective and convenient methods forpurifying water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention describes an apparatus for thepurification of contaminated waste having (a) an electrolytic cell, (b)an entry port below the electrolytic cell, (c) an upper section abovethe electrolytic cell including an air sparger and an outlet, (d) aclosed draining space adjacent to the upper section comprising means forseparating water and impurities, and (e) a re-circulating pumpconnecting the outlet to the entry port of the electrolytic cell. Theelectrodes of the electrolytic cell are preferably connected in series.The apparatus may also include an inclined bottom basin which slopesaway from the upper section having a purified water outlet at the lowerend of the inclined bottom opposite the upper section, a recirculatingoutlet located above the purified water outlet, and an exit port locatedabove the recirculating outlet. The re-circulating outlet may beconnected to the re-circulating pump. In alternate embodiments, theapparatus may also include a filter such as, but not limited to, arotary vacuum filter, a filter press, conveyor belt vacuum filter, asand filter or a centrifuge filter. In some embodiments, the uppersection is conical in cross section and the electrodes may be iron,magnesium, aluminum and their alloys. In some embodiments, the polarityof the electrodes is cycled continuously and the frequency of cyclingthe polarity of the electrodes is between about 1 change per 1 secondand about 1 change per 10 minutes. In some embodiments, a chlorinator isalso included in the apparatus.

In another embodiment of the invention, a water purification processhaving the following steps is described; (a) passing contaminated waterin a generally vertically upward direction through an electrolytic cellhaving a plurality of electrodes surrounded by a moving bed of solid,non-conductive particles to form a hydrophobic floc comprising purifiedwater, water, impurities and suds; (b) directing the floc to a closedchamber directly connected to an upper end of the electrolysis chamber;(c) separating the impurities, suds and water from the purified water;(d) recirculating a portion of the water from the closed chamber to theelectrolytic cell; (e) removing the impurities and suds from the closedchamber, and (f) removing the purified water from the closed chamber. Insome embodiments, air is sparged above the electrolytic cell, but belowfluid level, and the electrodes are connected in series with thepolarity of the electrodes being changed continuously. In someembodiments, the upward velocity of the water is partially accomplishedby re-circulating the water through the cell and the contaminated wateris directed through the moving bed by pressure. The non-conductiveparticles are preferably granite and have a specific density greaterthan that of the contaminated water and their free falling velocity isgreater than the upward velocity of the water. In some embodiments, thepurified water is further chlorinated. In some embodiments, the polarityof the electrodes is being alternated by applying a direct currentvoltage and the frequency in change of polarity ranges from about 1change per second to about 1 change per 10 minutes and the change ofpolarity has the same duration. In some embodiments, additional soapsolution is added to the water to be purified and micro bubbles areproduced utilizing the change in pressure due to a re-circulation pump.

In another embodiment of the invention, a chlorination system isdescribed as having one or more anodes, a porous diaphragm surroundingthe anodes, a cathode surrounding the porous diaphragm, means fordirecting the flow of fluids towards the anode, and means for preventingthe backflow of fluids out of the cell. Preferably, the porous diaphragmis permeable enough to allow laminar flow but tight enough to preventturbulent flow. In some embodiments, the system also includes anon-conductive separator spaced between the anode and the porousdiaphragm and surrounding the anodes. The anode may be made of carbon,titanium covered with platinum, titanium covered with ruthenium oxide,or other non corrodible elements. In some embodiments, the means fordirecting the flow of fluids towards the anode is a porous diaphragmhaving a non-permeable bottom and an open top. In some embodiments, themeans for preventing the backflow of fluids is a check valve, ballvalve, or gate valve.

In another embodiment of the invention, a water chlorination process isdescribed as having the following steps: (a) flowing a water stream inan upward direction into an electrolytic cell comprising an anodecompartment and a cathode compartment separated by a porous diaphragm;(b) concentrating chloride ions in the water in the anode compartmentvia electrodialysis, (c) accumulating hydrochloric acid in the anodecompartment. In some embodiments, the process also includesintermittently diffusing the hydrochloric acid from the anodecompartment to the cathode compartment through the porous diaphragm.

In yet another embodiment, the device includes a conveyor havingdownwardly depending flaps that serve to sweep the surface of the fluid,thus pushing any floating floc and other matter entrained thereintowards the outlet. The conveyor can be mounted overhead or on a side ofthe drainage basin, and the flaps can be of any shape, although they arepreferably at least flat on the bottom for maximum contact with thesurface. The flaps should contact either the surface of the fluid or atleast penetrate the floating floc layer to come degree, so as to catchand shift the floc to the exit. We have illustrated a long linearconveyer to slowly sweep the flocks the length of the basin to insurethat the flocks are well drained of trapped water before exiting thebasin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a water purification apparatus and processin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the apparatus and process forthe purification of water in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a conveyor belt (45) positioned above the sloping basin andhaving downwardly depending flaps (40) that serve to sweep or skim thesurface of the fluid, thus pushing floating flocs to the solid outlet.This conveyor travels the length of the device, but much shorterconveyors could also be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Contaminated water is treated electrolytically to produce highlypositive compounds using corrodible electrodes to form with highmolecular weight organic acids highly positive insoluble hydrophobicsoaps which traps organic compounds and encapsulates some microbes.Contaminated water sources include, but are not limited to, water frommeat processing plants, dairies, cheese processing plants, bakeries,chemical plants, paper mills, and petroleum plants and effluentsincluding raw sewage.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a water purification apparatus.An inlet conduit 1 is connected to the bottom of an electrolytic cell 2.At the top of the electrolytic cell 2 is an upper section 4 having anoutlet passage 5. The upper section 4 preferably includes a conicalsection 3 connected to the top of the electrolytic cell 2 and an outletconduit 18. The outlet passage 5 is located above the conical section 3.Between the outlet passage 5 and the conical section 3, the outletconduit 18 exits the upper section. Outlet conduit 18 includes line 21and is fed to the inlet of a re-circulating pump 13. Air and additionalsoap may be introduced through line 21 into the system. The uppersection 4 is preferably closed to the atmosphere.

Electrodes 6 are mounted in cell 2 in any suitable way (not shown in thedrawing) and are connected in series to a direct current source which ischanged in polarity continuously. The change in polarity of the currentinsures the equal corrosion of the end electrodes which are connected inseries to the current source but enhances the cleaning action of thefluid bed. The frequency of change in polarity is preferably done atequal periods of time. In some embodiments, continuously, as referred toherein, refers to changing the polarity between about 1 change per 1second to about 1 change per 10 minutes and is dependent upon the amountof contaminants in the water and the tendency of the contaminants toaccumulate on the electrodes.

In some embodiments, the electrodes 6 are preferably corrodible and madeof, but not limited to divalent or trivalent metals, such as, aluminum,iron, magnesium or their combination or alloys. The electrodes areconnected in series to a direct current source whose polarity is changedduring short, preferably, equal periods of time. The electrodes 6 aresurrounded by a moving bed of solid non-conductive hard particles whosespecific density is greater than that of the contaminated water.

In some embodiments of the invention, located at the top of the conicalsection 3, above the point where the solid particles have settled, butstill below the surface level of fluid, is an air sparger 7. By“sparger” herein what is meant that an air blower is positioned belowfluid level, so as to blow bubbles through the fluid. The air sparger 7supplies additional bubbles besides those formed during electrolysis tothe upper section 4. The air sparger 7 may be connected to a compressedair supply 8. The compressed air produces bubbles to float the flocsproduced by the release of metallic soaps during the electrolysis of thewater to be purified. In some embodiments, the air bubbles areintroduced after the electrolytic cell, but below the surface level ofthe fluid (e.g, below the outlet passage 5).

Although a conical section 3 is shown, any cross-section may be used andpreferably a cross-section which will decrease the upward movingvelocity of the water to a value where the solid particles will settledown into the electrolytic cell is used. The solid particles freefalling velocity in water should be higher than the upward movingvelocity of the water. The flow through the flocculation basin shouldpreferably be maintained to allow any solid particles which are carriedaway from the bed to return to the electrolysis chamber.

Outlet passage 5 is connected to basin 9. Basin 9 also includes adraining space 15 that may have an inclined bottom 10. A recirculatingconduit 11 is near the upper edge of the basin and preferably oppositefrom the outlet passage 5. The basin 9 is preferably closed to theatmosphere. A purified water outlet 12 is at the bottom of basin 9, alsopreferably opposite from the outlet passage 5. A suds outlet 16 islocated opposite the outlet passage 5, preferably some distance away toallow acceptable separation of the floc and the purified water.Recirculating conduit 11, along with outlet conduit 18, is fed tore-circulating pump 13 whose outlet 14 may be connected to the inletconduit 1 below the electrolytic cell 2. Basin 9 also includes a sudsoutlet 16 which is located above the draining space 15. The location ofthe recirculating conduit 11 is preferably located near or below thelayer of bubbles in order to catch any settling floc and recycling it tothe electrolytic cell. This insures that all floc preferably exitsthrough the suds outlet 16.

Both upper section 4 and basin 9 are preferably closed to theatmosphere. In practice, it has been found that exposure to theatmosphere dries out and bursts the bubbles and the flocs tend tosettle, making it difficult to obtain a pure water free of flocs. Theclosed environment protects the bubbles carrying the flocs againstdrying and bursting. The bubbles are also drained of excess water anddelivered through the suds outlet 16 to the atmosphere. Basin 9preferably has sufficient capacity to hold water being treated forapproximately 15 minutes to obtain maximum separation of water andflocs. In alternate embodiments, the basin 30 is sized to hold waterbeing treated for about 10 minutes, 20 minutes or whatever timenecessary to allow separation of the flocs and water and allow the flocsto rise to the top.

During operation, contaminated water flows through inlet conduit 1 andupward into the electrolytic cell 2. High molecular weight organic acidscombine with metallic ions released from the electrodes forming highlypositive insoluble hydrophobic soaps which trap organic compounds andencapsulates microbes. These highly positive compounds neutralize thenegatively charged colloids permitting the colloids to coalesce, makingfiltration or separation possible. Floc is formed through the build-upof colloidal hydrated oxides of the separated metal ions. The flocbinds, or absorbs, other impurities present in the contaminated waterand serves as a transport medium to remove the impurities from water.

The solid non-conductive particles are moved at various speeds invarious directions, by way of the water flow and gasses produced in theelectrolytic cell, against and along the surfaces of the electrodes toinsure cleaning of the electrodes. An additional electrode cleaningeffect results from the return motion of those solid particles whichhave been carried along with water and which move past the electrodes asthey settle downward.

The contaminated water is directed through the moving bed of particlesin the electrolytic cell by the inlet water pressure. In someembodiments, the pressure is provided by the re-circulating pump 13. Inother embodiments, air is blown into the bed to intensify its motion. Inalternate embodiments, additional air is provided by supplying air intothe suction side of the re-circulating pump via line 21. In a preferredembodiment, the contaminated water is generally directed through themoving bed in substantially vertically upward direction.

Water containing flocs and bubbles is led through passage 5 to basin 9and the draining space 15. Purified water leaves via purified wateroutlet 12 which is preferably at a level below that of the suds layerduring operation. Recirculating conduit 11 and conduit 18 leadsrecirculating water with flocs through pump 13 and conduit 14 to intakeconduit 1. Conduit 18 recirculates the upper layer of water in theconical section of the electrolytic cell through the electrodes.

Some embodiments include valve 19 and valve 20 which may be used tocontrol the re-circulation ratio. Soap solution and additional air issupplied to water outlet conduit 11 through line 21. Additional solublesoaps may be introduced into the water in some embodiments, particularlywhere the amount of high molecular weight organic acids or esters areinsufficient in the contaminated water to be treated to form theelectrolytically highly positive metallic soaps required forcoagulation. Due to the pressure supplied by the pump 13, the air andsoap added through line 21 will generally be compressed and dissolvedinto the water and will form very small micro-bubbles in theelectrolytic cell.

Suds outlet 16 delivers drained suds 17 to the atmosphere. The drainedsuds contain substantially all of the impurities of the contaminatedwater feed. These hydrophobic flocs are easy to dry and handle. In someembodiments, flocs may be used as fertilizer after being sterilized. Inalternate embodiments, the flocs are dried and may be used as fuel.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of a water purification system. Aninlet conduit 22 is connected to the bottom of an electrolytic cell 23.At the top of the electrolytic cell 23 is an upper section 24 having aoutlet passage 26. The upper section 24 preferably includes a conicalsection connected to the top of the electrolytic cell 23 and arecirculating conduit 32. The outlet passage 26 is located above theconical section. Between the outlet passage 26 and the conical section,the recirculating conduit 32 exits the upper section 24. Recirculatingconduit 32 includes line 33 and is fed to the inlet of a re-circulatingpump 39. Air and additional soap may be introduced through recirculatingconduit 32 into the system. The upper section 24 is preferably closed tothe atmosphere.

Electrodes 27 are mounted in cell 23 in any suitable way (not shown inthe drawing) and connected in series to a direct current source which ischanged in polarity continuously. The change in polarity of the currentinsures the equal corrosion of the end electrodes which are connected inseries to the current source but enhances the cleaning action of thefluid bed. The frequency of change in polarity is preferably done atequal periods of time. In some embodiments, continuously, as referred toherein, refers to changing the polarity between about 1 change per 1second to about 1 change per 10 minutes and is dependent upon the amountof contaminants in the water and the tendency of the contaminants toaccumulate on the electrodes.

In some embodiments, the electrodes 27 are preferably corrodible andmade of, but not limited to divalent or trivalent metals, such as,aluminum, iron, magnesium or their combination or alloys. The electrodesare connected in series to a direct current source whose polarity ischanged during short, preferably, equal periods of time. The electrodes27 are surrounded by a moving bed of solid non-conductive hard particleswhose specific density is greater than that of the contaminated water.

In some embodiments of the invention, located at the top of the conicalpart of the upper section 24, above the point where the solid particleshave settled, is an air sparger 28. The air sparger 28 suppliesadditional bubbles besides those formed during electrolysis to the uppersection 24. The air sparger 28 may be connected to a compressed airsupply 29. The compressed air produces bubbles to float the flocsproduced by the release of metallic soaps during the electrolysis of thewater to be purified. In some embodiments, the air bubbles areintroduced after the electrolytic cell.

Although a conical section is shown, any cross-section may be used andpreferably a cross-section which will decrease the upward movingvelocity of the water to a value where the solid particles will settledown into the electrolytic cell is used. The solid particles freefalling velocity in water should be higher than the upward movingvelocity of the water. The flow through the flocculation basin shouldpreferably be maintained to allow any solid particles which are carriedaway from the bed to return to the electrolysis chamber.

Outlet passage 26 is connected to basin 30. Basin 30 also includes adraining space 37 that may have an inclined bottom. Opposite the outletpassage 26 is a filter 34. In a preferred embodiment, the filter 34 is arotating vacuum filter. In alternate embodiments, the filter may befilter press, a conveyor belt vacuum filter, a sand filter, a centrifugefilter, or any filter known to one skilled in the art. Basin 30preferably has sufficient capacity to hold water being treated forapproximately 15 minutes to allow flocks to grow before filtering. Inalternate embodiments, the basin 30 is sized to hold water being treatedfor about 10 minutes, 20 minutes or whatever time necessary to allowflocks to grow before filtering.

Both upper section 24 and basin 30 are preferably closed to theatmosphere. In practice, it has been found that exposure to theatmosphere dries out and bursts the bubbles and the flocs tend tosettle, making it difficult to obtain a pure water free of flocs. Theclosed environment protects the bubbles carrying the flocs againstdrying and bursting. The bubbles are delivered to the filter 34.

During operation, contaminated water flows upwardly through inletconduit 22 into electrolytic cell 23 and through the upper section 24.Passage 26 delivers water and suds to basin 30. After being filteredthrough filter 34, filtered water is delivered through central pipeoutlet 35 via vacuum pump (not shown) to atmospheric pressure. Filteredsolids 36 are scraped from rotating filter 34 by scraper 38. In someembodiments, the filtered water is passed through a chlorinator. In someembodiments, the filtered solids may be sterilized and used asfertilizer or dried and used as fuel.

After contaminated water has been treated to remove colloids, solublenitrogen compounds may be reacted with chlorine. In one embodiment ofthe invention, chloride ions are introduced into a cathode compartmentand transferred to an anode compartment by electro-dialysis.

FIG. 3 shows a conveyor belt 45 that rotates about two points 35. Theconveyor can be mounted overhead or on the side of the chamber (notshown), as is convenient for the engineers. Preferably, the downwardlydepending flaps or fins 40 sweep the entire length of the surface, butthe conveyor can also be much shorter, sweeping only a portion of thelength.

The present invention and the embodiment(s) disclosed herein are welladapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth.Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing fromthe spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changesare possible within the scope of this invention and it is furtherintended that each element or step recited is to be understood asreferring to all equivalent elements or steps. The description isintended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible inwhatever forms it may be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waste water treatment device comprising: (a) anelectrolytic cell comprising electrodes connected in series and having afluid entry port below the electrolytic cell, (b) an upper sectionfluidly connected above said electrolytic cell, said upper sectionhaving an outlet at the top of said upper section, and an air spargerbelow said outlet located above said electrolytic cell, (c) said outletfluidly connected to a basin having an inclined bottom sloping away fromsaid upper section, (d) said basin further comprising a purified wateroutlet at a lower end of said inclined bottom opposite said uppersection; and a solid exit port located at the top of said sloping basinopposite said upper section, and (e) at least one conveyor havingdownwardly depending flaps positioned to sweep at or near a surface of afluid in said basin, and therefore sweep any solids at or near saidsurface towards said solids exit port.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the upper section is conical or partially conical in crosssection.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper section isconical or partially conical in cross section and has a greater diameterthan said electrolytic cell.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theelectrodes comprise iron, magnesium, aluminum or their alloys ormixtures thereof.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polarity ofthe electrodes are cycled continuously.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the polarity of the electrodes are cycled continuously atbetween 1 change per 1 second to 1 change per 10 minutes.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chlorinator.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a recirculating exit port in one or bothof said upper section and said sloping basin, said exit port beingfluidly connected to said inlet port.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said downwardly depending flaps sweep across a part of or anentire length of said basin and said upper section.
 10. The waterpurification apparatus of claim 1 wherein said any solids includeswater, impurities, and suds.
 11. A water purification processcomprising: (a) passing contaminated water in a generally verticallyupward direction through an electrolytic cell having a plurality ofelectrodes surrounded by a moving bed of solid, non-conductive particlesto form a floc, wherein said electrodes are connected in series and thepolarity of the electrodes is alternated continuously; (b) sparging saidfloc at a point above said electrodes to cause said floc to float, (c)directing said floating floc to a chamber, (d) sweeping said floatingfloc in said chamber into an exit port with at least one conveyor havingdownwardly depending flaps, (e) recirculating a portion of the waterfrom the chamber to the electrolytic cell; and (f) removing the purifiedwater from the chamber.
 12. The water purification process of claim 11,wherein the upward velocity of the water is partially accomplished byre-circulation of the water through the cell.
 13. The water purificationprocess of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive particles have aspecific density greater than that of the contaminated water.
 14. Thewater purification process of claim 11, wherein the free fallingvelocity of the particles is greater than the upward velocity of thewater.
 15. The water purification process of claim 11, wherein thepurified water is further treated.
 16. The water purification process ofclaim 15, wherein said further treatment is chlorination.
 17. The waterpurification process of claim 11, the polarity of the electrodes beingalternated by applying a direct current voltage.
 18. The waterpurification process of claim 11, wherein the contaminated water isdirected through the moving bed by pressure.
 19. The water purificationprocess of claim 11, wherein the solid non-conductive particles aregranite particles.
 20. The water purification process of claim 11,wherein the frequency in change of polarity ranges from about 1 changeper second to about 1 change per 10 minutes.
 21. The water purificationprocess of claim 11, wherein additional soap solution is added to thewater to be purified.
 22. The water purification process of claim 11,wherein said floc is swept across a part of or an entire length of saidchamber to said exit port.
 23. The water purification process of claim11 wherein said chamber is a closed chamber.
 24. The water purificationprocess of claim 23 wherein said chamber is a basin.
 25. The waterpurification process of claim 23 wherein said chamber is an uppersection fluidly connected above said electrolytic cell.
 26. The waterpurification process of claim 23 wherein said chamber is an uppersection and a basin, said upper section being fluidly connected abovesaid electrolytic cell and having an outlet passage connected to saidbasin.
 27. The water purification process of claim 26 wherein said flocis swept a part of or an entire length across said chamber to said exitport.
 28. The water purification process of claim 26, wherein the uppersection is conical or partially conical in cross section.
 29. The waterpurification process of claim 26, wherein the upper section is conicalor partially conical in cross section and has a greater diameter thansaid electrolytic cell.
 30. The water purification process of claim 11wherein said flock includes water, impurities, and suds.